Trump’s Approval Falls to 31% in Reuters/Ipsos Poll Two Weeks Before Midterms

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 31%, the lowest point of either of his terms in office, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Monday.

The four-day poll found the president down one point from two weeks earlier, Reuters reported. Americans worried about high gasoline prices appear ready to punish his Republican Party in the November 3 congressional elections, according to the survey.

On the generic ballot question – which party voters would choose if the elections were held today – 47% of registered voters picked Democrats and 35% chose Republicans. The 12-point Democratic advantage was the widest of the current election cycle and could support Democratic efforts to take control of the House and Senate.

What the numbers mean for Congress

Republicans hold slim majorities in both chambers. If Democrats take back either one, Congress would have more power to block much of the president’s agenda in the last two years of Trump’s term.

Reuters noted that generic ballot polls show national sentiment and do not capture state-by-state and district-by-district races, where Republicans hold structural advantages in some contests.

The poll was conducted online among 1,679 American adults, including 1,279 registered voters. The margin of error was 2 percentage points for all respondents and 3 points for registered voters.

Gas prices weigh on voters

The drop in Trump’s standing comes as Americans feel pressure at the pump. The American Automobile Association reported on October 15 that regular gasoline averaged about $4.33 a gallon nationwide, more than a dollar above where it stood a year earlier, according to Tunisia Online News.

A separate ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll published October 18 put Trump’s approval at 33%, with 71% of respondents calling gasoline unaffordable, up from 28% in February.

Reporting based on coverage by Reuters and Tunisia Online News.